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Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• Hip bursitis facts
• What is bursitis?
• What is hip bursitis?
• What causes hip bursitis?
• What are hip bursitis symptoms?
• How is hip bursitis diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for hip bursitis?
• What is the prognosis for hip bursitis?
• Patient Comments: Hip Bursitis - Prognosis
• Patient Comments: Hip Bursitis - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Hip Bursitis - Treatment
• Patient Comments: Hip Bursitis - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Rheumatologist in your town
• Hip Bursitis Index

Most commonly, bursitis is a noninfectious condition (aseptic bursitis) caused by inflammation resulting from local soft-tissue trauma or strain injury. On rare occasions, the hip bursa can become infected with bacteria. This condition is called septic bursitis. Although uncommon, the hip bursa can become inflamed by crystals that deposit there from gout or pseudogout.

Bursitis of the hip is the most common cause of hip pain.

Trochanteric bursitis frequently causes tenderness of the outer hip, making it difficult for patients to lie on the involved side, frequently causing difficult sleep. Trochanteric bursitis also causes a dull, burning pain on the outer hip that is often made worse with excessive walking or stair climbing.

The ischial bursa is located in the upper buttock area. Ischial bursitis can cause dull pain in this area that is most noticeable when climbing uphill. The pain sometimes occurs after prolonged sitting on hard surfaces, hence the names "weaver's bottom" and "tailor's bottom."

The diagnosis of bursitis of the hip is usually based on clinical evaluation. Hip bursitis is diagnosed upon reviewing the history of the location of the hip pain and specific areas of tenderness of the outside of the hip. This can be further confirmed when a local injection of anesthetic relieves the pain. Patients frequently notice pain in the outer hip with stair climbing or descending and tenderness of the hip when lying on the affected side at night. The doctor can localize the tender areas to the location of the bursae of the hip. Occasionally, X-ray tests of the hip are used to rule out other conditions of the bone and joints, such as arthritis. Sometimes, but not always, X-rays can highlight areas of calcium deposits in an inflamed bursa.